Cheikha Rimitti, Maghreb Soul - the Story 1986-1990

There are five new CDs released this week that tell the story of the early days of rai, the north African style that first swept from Algeria across France and then the rest of Europe back in the mid-80s. They feature the work of Khaled, the superstar of the genre, as well as Cheb Hasni, the young pop hero of the Rai Love movement who was murdered in Algeria in 1994. But the most rousing songs in the collection come from a controversial and rebellious woman singer who died last year at the age of 83. As this double-album shows, Cheikha Rimitti was a stirring, feisty performer who was far more edgy and exciting than her younger, more commercially minded rivals. She sang about everyday life, hardship, drinking and sex, and as a result her songs were banned in Algeria in the 60s. Mysteriously, there are no translations provided and only scant sleevenotes in French.